Hand-protector for ball-catchers



(No Model.)

' E. L; WILSON.

HAND PROTECTOR FOR BALL GATGHERS. No. 538,572. atented Apr. 30, 1895.

If F mumunnmmmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. WILSON, OF LANHAMS, MARYLAND.

HAN D-PROTECTOR FO R BALL-CATCHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,572, dated April 30, 1 895.

Applic i n fi March 15, 18 95. Serial No. 541,920. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. WILSON, a citizen of the United States residing at Lanhams, Prince George county, Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Base-Ball Catchers Hand-Shields; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification,

mitten, having an individual thumb. This thumb although thickly padded on one side is capable of being worked to and fro independently of the body portion. I have discovered that this feature is unnecessary and inasmuch as the object of the appliance is to receive the impact of the ball a stronger and more serviceable article may be obtained by making a continuous and flexible edge, where there formerly was a gap between the thumb and fore finger thus making a shield of com paratively regular contour.

It will thus be seen that the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described and pointed out, particularlyin the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of a form of shield, showing the same secured to the hand by devices some or all of which may be employed, as desired. Fig. 2 is a cr0ss-sectional view.

Like letters of reference in the figures indicate the same parts.

In gloves, or more properly protectors, of this character as heretofore manufactured it has been customary to provide the pad proper A for covering the palm of the hand with a glove secured to the rear side and having ordinary complete stalls or pockets for the fingers andthumb, which arrangementis disadvantageous, however, because baseball beinga summer game and the exercise of playtug, of a most vigorous character, the glove sectional retainers areiudicated in the drawings by the letter a, and they preferably have their greatest length longitudinally of the fingers and are made of sole leather or other relatively stiff material attached to the back of the pad along a central line as indicated at a by stitching or otherwise. In cross section they are substantially V-shaped and tapered or made cone shape longitudinally, to secure the proper shape of the openings between them in which the fingers are placed. Should it be desired or found necessary in any instance, the shape of the retainers may be insured by the employment of springs, such as b, but ordinarily this will not be required.

Normally the edges of the retainers meet as shown in the section Fig. 2, but when the fingers are inserted they separate as shown in Fig. 1, but still exertsufficient pressure to hold the pad securely to the hand.

To guard against the possible escape of the fingers from the retainers in an emergency, I passa narrow adjustable strap D through the edges of the retainers and fasten it to the pad at each side, and as a further precaution it is sometimes found desirable to lace a cord back and forth through the edges of the retainers as shown in dotted lines at O in Fig. 1. The strap is preferably passed loosely through holes in the edges of the retainers and thus its pressure is equalized over all the fingers and it is preferably placed across at the base of the fingers near the knuckles where the greatest strain comes when the hand is bent in the efforts of catching the ball.

Another important feature in connection with these retainers or finger holders is, that when they are brought to a nearly perpendicular position by the insertion of the fingers they form protectors, as, in the excitement of the game catchers have been known to get too near the batter, and as he, the batsman, strikes at the ball, get the ends of their fingers hit. In such a case this style of finger covering forms an admirable protector.

E is a strap which, when the device is fastened on passes from a point where the fork of the thumb of the wearer normally comes, diagonally across to, and under the wrist, through a leather sleeve I-I shown in dotted lines Fig.1 and over again to the opposite side of the hand to the buckle D. The novel feature of this device is that it adjusts itself to all sizes of hands and prevents the protector from slipping down which is liable to happen with the old style.

E is an adjustable thumb covering or retainer consisting of a piece of leather, one edge of which is secured to the back of the pad the other portion being left open for the circulation of air. It is held in place by the strap F and may be adjusted at the optionof the wearer.

It is the object of catchers to work the pad into as near the form of a pocket as possible and to further this object I use the lacing G. This lacing causes a depression or crease on the face of the pad and starts from the edge at a point between the thumb and fore finger.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have produced a highly efiicient device for the purposes intended which device can be manufactured cheaply and without the exercise of that degree of skill necessary for the manufacture of gloves of the ordinary character.

With devices constructed in accordance with this invention it is of course desirable that different sizes be provided, but this is not essential for the comfort of the user for with the parts constructed as described it is found that there isa perfect feeling of security whether the hand be large or small, it being only necessary to adjust the straps in order to make a perfect fit for any hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A hand protector comprising a substantially fiat, stuffed and flexible pad for the palm portion, of substantially oval form, the peripheral edge thereof being a substantially regular curve, and thumb, finger, and wrist retainers on the back of the shield, lying wholly within the said peripheral edge; sub stantially as described.

2. A hand protector comprising a pad for the palm portion, having finger retainers on the back thereof, each retainer consisting of a strip, secured centrally to the pad, and projecting at an angle thereto, at each side of its point of attachment, whereby spaces for the fingers are formed between the strips substantially as described.

3. A hand protector comprisinga pad for the palm of the hand, and finger retainers of stiff material on the back thereof, the retainers projecting at an angle to the pad and of su fficient depth to protect the fingers of the wearer; substan tially as described.

4. A hand protector comprising a pad for covering the palm of the hand, independent finger retainers secured to the back of the pad, and an adjustable connection between the retainers, whereby the fingers are prevented from escaping; substantially as described.

5. A hand protector comprising a pad for covering the palm of the hand; independent finger retainers secured to the back of the pad, and a lacing passing through the edges of the retainers for preventing the escape of the fingers; substantially as described.

6. A hand protector comprisinga pad for the palm, finger and thumb retainers, secured to the back thoreof; and a fastener consisting of a strap secured to the pad at one end, and means for adjustably securing its opposite end to the pad, the pad having a loop at its lower edge through which the strap passes.

7. A hand protector com prising a pad for the palm, having a thumb retainer on the back thereof consisting of a strip secured to the pad at one edge, the other edge being free and provided with means for adjustably securing the thumb retainer in place; substantially as described.

8. A hand protector comprisinga pad for the palm, having a thumb retainer on the back thereof, consisting of a strip secured to the pad at one edge, the other edge being free, and provided with an adjustable strap passing over the back thereof; substantially as described.

9. A hand protector comprisinga pad having finger and thumb retainers on the back thereof, within the peripheral edge of the pad and a line of stitching passing through the pad, for defining a line of fiexnre; substantially as described.

ED WD. L. WILSON.

Witnesses:

ALEX S. STEUART, LINDA STEUART. 

